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Terms of Reference

National Marine Mammal Peer Review Committee (NMMPRC): October 2019 Biannual Meeting

National Peer Review - National Capital Region

October 21-26, 2019
St. John’s, Newfoundland

Chairpersons: Garry Stenson and Lianne Postma

Context

The National Marine Mammal Peer Review Committee (NMMPRC) holds at least one annual meeting to conduct scientific peer-review of marine mammal issues. Meetings provide the opportunity for collaborative review of scientific results by marine mammal experts from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and from other (non-DFO) organizations. Following NMMPRC peer-review and approval, scientific results are used to provide sound scientific advice for the management and conservation of marine mammals in Canada.

Topics

Specific Terms of Reference for each topic are as follows:

1. Harp seal pup production survey, population estimates, and harvest advice

Context: Harp seals, Pagophilus groenlandicus, are the most abundant pinniped in the northwest Atlantic. The Canadian and Greenland hunt for Northwest Atlantic harp seals is the largest marine mammal harvest in the world. Since 2003, the Canadian commercial harp seal harvest has been managed under an Objective-Based Fisheries Management (OBFM) approach which incorporates the principle of the Precautionary Approach. Under this approach, precautionary reference levels are identified and are associated with pre-agreed management actions that are to be enacted if the population is estimated to decline further (Research Document 2003/067). Under OBFM, the management objective is to set harvests that will ensure an 80% probability (L20) that the population will remain above the precautionary reference level (N70). The limit reference level, for this population, also known as a conservation reference level has been set at N30 (i.e. 30% of the maximum population observed or estimated). In evaluating the impacts of different harvest levels on the population, reported harvests by Canadian and Greenland hunters, losses due to animals struck but not landed or reported, bycatch in fishing gear, changes in reproductive rates, and unusual mortality due to poor ice conditions are taken into account.

Objectives: In 2017, a new pup-production survey of harp seals was conducted. The objective of this peer-review is to assess this new estimate of pup production and the resulting population estimates, and provide advice to DFO Ecosystems and Fisheries Management (EFM) on the impact of proposed harvest levels. Specifically, EFM has requested advice on an annual Potential Biological Removal (PBR) level, and advice to evaluate the sustainability of the harvest for the next 5 years (2020-2024) with an 80% confidence of remaining in the “healthy” zone for three age-class scenarios:

Expected Publications

References

Hammill, M. and Stenson, G.  2003. Application of the Precautionary Approach and Conservation Reference Point to the Management of Atlantic Seals: A Discussion Paper. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2003/067. ii + 22pp.

2. Seasonal distribution and concentration of large whales in the St. Lawrence Estuary (SLE)

Context: Since June 2013, temporary voluntary protection measures for slowdown and avoidance have been put in place in the St. Lawrence Estuary (SLE) to reduce the risk of collisions between vessels and whales. Following an initial request for scientific advice (Impacts of the St. Lawrence Estuary on the Beluga Whale, DFO 2014), voluntary measures have been revised to minimize the impact of noise on belugas. The implementation of these measures, however, was based solely on opportunistic data on the distribution of marine mammals and systematic data on their distribution are now available to improve it. In addition, the speed reduction measure, although voluntary, was partially restricted to the marine park's administrative boundaries before formalizing permanent measures.

In order to make the speed reduction and avoidance measures permanent, and to have them recognized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), advice is sought regarding the abundance, and spatial and temporal distribution of cetaceans, their habitat, and how this overlaps with marine traffic (AIS data) in the SLE. This information will allow managers to adjust these protective measures as needed based on the best available relevant scientific information. It will bring together all the available data (Parks Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, GREMM, possibly others) that will be analyzed to produce maps that can be superimposed on that of the temporary protection measures.

Objectives: The objective of this review is to evaluate the seasonal distribution, abundance, and areas of concentration of whales in the Estuary (e.g. blue whale, fin whale, humpback whale, minke whale). This mapping, to be superimposed (at a later date) on the vessel traffic data and the speed reduction and avoidance zones currently defined in the provisional measures, will enable the Ocean Management Division and the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park to make management decisions as to the relevance of updating the protection measures put in place since 2013 (slowdown zones, areas to be avoided, recommended routes, areas of vigilance), in terms of geographical and temporal extent. This mapping is also necessary to develop protection measures related to its species in the proposed marine protected area of the St. Lawrence Estuary.

Expected Publications

References

DFO. 2014. Impacts of rerouting marine traffic in the St. Lawrence estuary on beluga (Delphinapterus leucas): Science in support of risk management. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2014/004.

3. Trends in population growth of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) in British Columbia 1977 to 2017

Context: The Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) was assessed by COSEWIC as Threatened in 2000 and listed as Threatened under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 2003. In 2007 the species was reassessed by COSEWIC as Special Concern, and subsequently down-listed to Special Concern under SARA in 2009.

Sea Otter populations in BC have been surveyed since 1977 as a means of monitoring the recovery of this species in Canadian Pacific waters. Assessment of trends in abundance and growth are dependent on a time series of survey data and therefore on-going population surveys at regular intervals are important.

The Recovery Strategy for the Sea Otter in Canada (2007), and the superseding Management Plan for the Sea Otter in Canada (2014), both identify population assessments in the form of regular surveys as required to monitor progress towards achieving the management objective for this species. Specifically, the Management Plan identifies the undertaking of “annual surveys of the Sea Otter population in index areas, areas of range expansion, and other portions of their range as needed, as well as a total population survey every five years, to monitor population trends and distribution”.  This is a high priority for the conservation of this species, and to assess progress towards the broad strategies and conservation measures outlined in the Management Plan.

Additionally, there is growing interest expressed by Indigenous groups to harvest Sea Otters for Food, Social, and Ceremonial (FSC) purposes; though no harvest of Sea Otters, including FSC, is currently occurring. In order to consider if and how such removals may occur without adverse impact to the population (i.e. sustainable harvest), DFO requires an accurate understanding of population status and trends, which may inform the development of a potential FSC harvest plan or other similar approach.

Lastly, information on population abundance and range expansion can be used to inform management actions and decisions made by DFO Fisheries Management (e.g. with respect to minimizing incidental catch and entanglement, spill response planning, consideration of Sea Otter predation (e.g. of shellfish).  The updated abundance estimate is also required under the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s marine mammal bycatch rules.

Objectives: In 2017, a total population survey was undertaken by DFO as part of the ongoing series of population assessments for this species. This request is for the analysis of the 2017 survey data. As part of this assessment, a Potential Biological Removal (PBR) estimate will be generated.

Expected Publications

References

Nichol, L. M., J. C. Watson, G. E. Ellis, and J. K. B. Ford. 2005. An assessment of abundance and growth of the sea otter (Enhydra lutris) population in British Columbia. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2005/094. ii + 22p.

4. Update on North Atlantic right whale occurrence and distribution in Atlantic Canadian waters

Context: In Canada, the North Atlantic Right Whale (NARW) is listed as Endangered under Schedule I of the Species at Risk Act (SARA), resulting in legal protection of the species and mandatory recovery planning. Under SARA, recovery actions associated with NARW are managed and/or administered by DFO. The SARA Recovery Strategy describes threats to the species, recovery objectives, and approaches for achieving them. Recovery objectives include reducing mortality and injury from vessel strikes and entanglements in fishing gear (DFO 2014).  A recovery action plan addressing fisheries interactions has been proposed (DFO, 2016).

Following the NARW deaths in Canadian waters in 2017, DFO initiated (in collaboration with partners) a research program to monitor NARW distribution and abundance in Canada.  In November 2018, DFO held a five-day peer-review meeting to evaluate the state of knowledge on NARW in Canadian waters (for details, see the Terms of Reference from the November 26-30, 2018 NMMPRC meeting and SAR2019/028).

Objectives: The objectives of the current review are to examine data obtained from aerial surveys conducted by DFO Science (beyond what was evaluated in the 2018 peer-review) and acoustic data collected in Newfoundland region (which were not available for the 2018 review) to improve our understanding of the spatial and temporal distribution of NARW in Canadian waters.

Expected Publications

Expected Participation

Notice

Participation to CSAS peer review meetings is by invitation only.

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